Ross McEwan will take the reins at state-backed Royal Bank of Scotland in
October, just a year after joining the lender. Here we take a closer look at
the Kiwi who is tasked with probably "the hardest job in banking".

Since joining RBS last year, McEwan has begun a major programme of investment across retail banking, focusing on improving branch facilities - he is said to visit up to five a week - and offering advanced online and mobile banking services for customers.

The 56-year-old joined RBS last September as chief executive for UK Retail, having worked in retail banking for more than a decade.

More than half of that time was spent at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where he was most recently group executive for Retail Banking Services.

McEwan was credited with lifting retail banking profits by 50pc to $2.8bn over five years, and saw the Bank awarded numerous awards including the 'Best Retail Bank in Asia Pacific' and the 'Best Retail Bank in Australia'.

He also held the position of executive general manager at CBA in charge of its branch networks, contact centres and third-party mortgage brokers.